Understanding Leadership Competencies in Cyber Crisis Management: Insights from the Maersk Global Supply Chain Meltdown

Abstract

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face an increasing threat from cyber-attacks and the resulting cyber crises. This paper focuses on the management of such crises, specifically examining the case study of the NotPetya cyber-attack that hit Maersk, a global shipping company, in 2017. Through the analysis of qualitative data and utilizing a Narrative Inquiry approach, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the leadership competencies required to effectively navigate and mitigate the impact of cyber crises. By emphasizing competencies such as sense-making, perspective-taking, and risk-taking in the immediate aftermath of an attack, this paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the field of cyber crisis management. Additionally, the paper highlights the crucial role played by leaders in leveraging the organization's external network to establish end-to-end cyber resilience across the supply chain.